Snapshot (19 page)

“Promise me, no more crazy stuff. I can’t take another phone call from an emergency room.”

“I promise.” He smiled and wished he could reach through the phone lines and hug her. He had the coolest mom.

“In the meantime,” his dad said. “I’m having your x-rays forwarded to a specialist here. I want to make absolutely sure there will be no permanent damage.”

“I understand.”

“So, you’re having a good time?” his mom asked, her voice soft. “You’ve made nice friends.”

“I’m having the best time of my life, and I’ve made great friends.” He thought of Marti and knew he didn’t dare bring up a girl. His dad would have a coronary right then and there.

“That’s good then. We’ll let you go, but be sure to have your camp director call when everything is settled. He’s been so helpful through all of this. He’ll definitely be getting a gift basket.”

“I will. Don’t worry about anything. I’ll give you a call in a couple of days.”

“Thank you. You’re a good egg.”

They said their goodbyes, and Adam hung up, glad to end the long, stressful call.

Now he needed the doctor to release him so he could get back to Marti. Tony wouldn’t let her or anyone else come with him to the hospital. He knew she must be worried sick.
 

The curtain of his room opened, and a hospital orderly peeked in. “Hi. Would it be okay if I got your picture? My daughter is a huge fan and is going to be so excited when she finds out you were here.” She looked both ways to make sure no one saw her breaking the rules.

Despite his true feelings, Adam smiled and gave his stock answer. “I’d love to.”
 

*
 
*
 
*
 

Adam lay on his bed with Marti curled at his side. The others were down at the campfire. With his good arm around her, he ran his fingers through her sun-streaked hair.
 

“You know you scared me to death today,” she said.
 

“Scared you? For a second, I thought I was a goner.” He shuddered and held her closer.

His phone started playing the Jamieson song,
Angel Kisses
.

“That’s my brother, Peter.” He tried to reach the phone but couldn’t.
 

Marti handed it to him. “Here you go. Is he going to be mad?”
 

“Who knows?” He answered the phone, making sure Marti was still snuggled against him. “Hey, Pete.”

“If you were so hell bent on quitting the band, you could have just said so. You didn’t have to go and break your arm,” his brother said, amusement lacing his words.

Adam grinned. “So you’re not disowning me?”

“Hell yes! I disowned you the day you peed in my dresser drawer.”

“I was four! And I was sleepwalking.” He laughed and Marti watched, looking confused. He traced circles on her arm with his finger

“That’s still debatable,” Peter said.

Marti nuzzled his neck, which made it very hard to think straight. He tickled her side to get her to stop.

“What are we gonna do?” Adam asked. “Is there a way to make this work out?”

“Hell no. You screwed up big time! Garrett’s having a field day with this one, so be glad you’re not in swinging distance.”

“I should have figured.” Garrett took the bossy know-it-all role to new heights.

“What are we gonna do?” Adam asked again. He couldn’t escape the pit in his stomach.

“I figure we’ll find someone new. Someone who can actually play the guitar and not just imitate Guitar Hero!” Peter taunted.

“Good luck with that!” Adam laughed. “And while you’re at it, see if you can find someone who can actually sing lead.”

Adam loved to banter with Peter. He’d never realized it before, but Peter was his best friend, the person he trusted more than anyone else.

“Hey, whatever happened with that girl? The one who hated you because you’re a musician.”

“That would be Marti.” She popped up at the sound of her name. “She ended up yelling my real name in front of a bunch of kids. I had to drown her.”

Marti shot him a dirty look and started pulling on his leg hairs.

“Ow!” He jerked his leg away.

“She’s there with you, isn’t she?” Peter asked.

“Yeah, I convinced her of my manly charms, and now she’s love-struck like some adoring fan.” Adam started laughing.

“You are such a jerk!” She grabbed a pillow and whacked him.

“Where are you and Libby now?” Adam held the phone with his shoulder and ear and held out his uninjured hand to Marti. She took it, and he pulled her close.

“We’re actually headed your direction.”

“Why?” His heart stopped cold. Did his mom tell Peter to come get him? To haul his ass out of camp after all the chaos he created?

“Calm down. We’re going to northern Minnesota. Did you know that the Mississippi River starts out up there as a small waterway?”

“And you’re going there why? Don’t answer that. It’s because you’re in love. Dude you are so whipped.”

“Pretty much.” Peter laughed.

Adam hung up, tossed his phone away and held Marti with his good arm. His kissed her forehead and rubbed his nose against hers. “You know, no one’s going to be back for at least an hour.”

She nipped a quick kiss. “Is that so?” She trailed her toes over his calf, sending fireworks straight to his core. “What about your arm? It must hurt a lot.”

“Not at all. You are my drug of choice, and I plan to overdose.”

Within minutes, Marti found herself naked as Adam covered her body with hot kisses. Every tender spot he touched hummed with joy. She caressed his strong shoulders and chest. Nasty scrapes and bruises from the fall marred his beautiful body. She wanted to kiss each one better.
 

They lay on their sides so he wouldn’t cause pain to his arm and bruised side. His fingers trailed from her cheek, down her neck and then lingered at her breasts. He dipped his head and kissed them. She felt naughty but more alive than ever. She never knew she could feel this way, so euphoric in sharing herself with someone else, the most special someone she could have dreamed of.
 

Adam’s fingers skimmed over her hip. She looked at him; deep heady passion filled his eyes. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. He trailed tiny kisses on her neck while his hands explored. She turned her head to offer access. He took full advantage and rolled on top of her, kissing and nuzzling behind her ear.
 

She parted her legs, inviting him closer, and he positioned himself temptingly close. Marti sighed and pushed against him.

“We should stop,” Adam groaned, unconvincingly. “We can’t do it again without protection.”

“I know. We should stop, but not yet.” Together they had flipped on some sort of switch inside each other, turning on arousal and passion, and she didn’t want to turn it off. She curled her legs over his to hold him in place.

“Marti, I want you so bad. You’re killing me,” he groaned.

She squirmed. His body felt so damn good. She wanted more of him, but didn’t know how to ask. She wanted all of him. She felt like someone dying of thirst who is led to water. One sip wasn’t enough. She wanted all of it. She wanted to swim in that water.

“Please,” she whispered in his ear.

He looked at her, his face inches from hers. The touch of his breath on her cheek. “Oh god, Marti. Don’t tempt me.” His voice filled with agony.

“It’s okay. Neither of us has ever been with anyone else and it’s the safe time of the month. Just for a minute. You can pull out.” She’d do anything to convince him because she wanted him now!
 

He captured her mouth with his, her body sang, and he held back no more.
 

Marti lay entwined with Adam and the sheets; she couldn’t remember a time she’d been happier. Adam kissed her temple and fell back on the shared pillow. She kissed the warm tan spot at the crook of his neck and snuggled closer.

Hurried footsteps sounded on the front porch, and Kyle sprang through the door.
 

“Oh shit!” He turned his back on their intimate moment.

“Kyle, get the hell out!” Adam yelled.

Marti pulled the sheet to cover her naked body. Her face was hot. She thought she’d die of embarrassment. Why did he have to come in now? How would she ever look him in the eye again?

“Tony’s on his way here!” Kyle said, out of breath. He obviously ran the whole way.

“What?!” Adam sat up.

“Get dressed! He’s looking for Marti, and he doesn’t look happy.” Kyle spoke to the wall.

Marti sat up, clinging to the thin sheet. “Why? What did I do?”

Adam glanced at their obvious disarray.

“Shit!” She leapt out of bed and fished around for her panties. “Oh my god!”
 

Adam fumbled for his shorts. Kyle exited to the porch, watching for Tony.

She pulled on her shorts. “Where’s my bra? Oh crap.” She looked under the bed, but couldn’t find it.

“Forget it, put on your shirt.” Adam turned it right-side-out and tossed it to her.

Marti pulled it over her head. She smoothed down her hair while Adam straightened up the bed.

“Hurry up, he’s coming!” Kyle warned through the screen door.

She slipped into her sandals and stepped onto the open porch. Maybe Tony wouldn’t realize what they had been doing. Oh god, what was she supposed to say? What if he called Grandma? She couldn’t believe this. How humiliating!

Adam and Kyle joined her.
 
She shared a freaked out look with Adam as the camp director approached.

“Hi, Tony. Kyle said you were looking for me? I was just checking on Adam,” she said brightly, trying to sound as normal as possible.

Tony looked at the three of them and then settled his gaze on her.
Oh crap. He knew
! Her face heated.

“Marti, I need to talk to you.”

Adam stepped to her side, which was the sweetest thing. He chose to face the firing squad with her.

“This is a private matter. Guys, would you excuse us please?” Tony stepped aside to allow Marti to join him.

She sobered. What was going on? Anything she’d done wrong this week, she’d done with Adam or with their entire group. Why would he single her out?

“What’s going on?” she asked tentatively, walking away from the guys.

Tony remained silent until they reached her cabin. “I have some very difficult news to give you.”

She looked at him, his face serious and sad. Her heart stopped cold. Dread filled her gut. “What?” She faced him, not wanting to imagine his news. “Please just tell me.”

“Let’s go inside.” He motioned to her cabin.

She swallowed; each second he didn’t speak felt like hours. “No. Tell me here. Tell me now.”
 

He hesitated. She looked across to Adam and Kyle watching from their porch. They could see something serious was going down.
 

Tony sighed. “I’m so very sorry to tell you this. Your Grandmother passed away this morning.”

Chapter 11

She felt the blood drain from her face. “What?” She covered her mouth to stifle her cry.

“No,” she whispered and shook her head. “Grandma just sent me cookies.” Tony was wrong. Someone else’s grandma had died, not hers. He had the wrong camper.

“I received a call from a woman named Ruth Jensen. She said she’s a good friend of your grandmother’s and that you know her well.”
 

Marti nodded, but she no longer wanted to hear his words. This couldn’t be happening. She wanted him to stop.

“Your grandmother was in the hospital for a heart procedure and died from a heart attack during the procedure.”

Her eyes welled up. “Please tell me this isn’t true and that you’re making this up.” She’d accept any horrible excuse for a tragic joke, if he’d take back his words and say it wasn’t true.

“I wish it wasn’t.” Tony seemed about to cry too. “Ruth said that your mother is coming to get you in the morning. It’s too long a drive to start tonight, and she is understandably upset.”

Marti felt an eerie chaos surround her. It seemed like she stood alone inside a giant vacuum while everything else sped by in a foggy haze. Tony spoke, but the words didn’t really register.
Something about my mother?

“If you’d like to sleep in the nurse’s cabin tonight, that would be fine. It might be best.”

Grandma was gone. She died from a heart attack
. Marti didn’t know Grandma had a heart problem. She’d been out of breath lately, and tired easily, but Grandma never mentioned it or complained.

“I have Ruth’s number for you. She said to call her as soon as you are able. I guess your mother is unavailable.”